TURKEY: ONCE THE CENTER OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE, TURKEY WAS FOUNDED IN 1923 AS A SECULAR STATE WHOSE POPULATION IS OVERWHELMINGLY MUSLIM THOUGH NOT ARAB. A LONG-STANDING MEMBER OF NATO AND A CANDIDATE FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU), TURKEY HAS LOOKED TO THE WEST AS A MODEL. EXCEPT FOR BITTER WATER DISPUTES WITH SYRIA AND IRAQ, TURKEY HAS USUALLY MANAGED TO SIDESTEP REGIONAL POLITICS. WITH A DEVELOPED ECONOMY BUT LITTLE OIL, IT RELIES ON A VAST NETWORK OF MEGA DAMS FOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER AND IRRIGATION.

Turkey (the Republic of Turkey) was established in 1923, which includes Northern Cyprus (the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - figures follow), it covers an area of 779,452 sq km, its population is 66 million, its capital is Ankara, and its official language is Turkish.

Northern Cyprus (the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) covers an area of 3,355 sq km, its population is 0.2 million, its capital is Nicosia, and its official language is Turkish.

May 2003: Fly Air (FLM) is launched on the back of charter carrier, Air Anatolya (TOI).

December 2005: Fly Air (FLM) announced it is preparing to operate service from Turkey to Erbil and Suleymaniyah in Northern Iraq. Twice a week flights are expected to begin as soon as possible.

November 2007: Dutch Transport and Water Management Inspectorate levied a €30,000/$43,740 penalty on (TAP) Portugal, and a €15,000 fine on Pegasus Airlines (pgs) for repeated abuse of the legally set special noise regime, during the night and early morning period at Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). Compliance with the relevant environmental standards at (AMS) has been tightened since July, following an agreement between Airport Coordination Netherlands, the Dutch slot coordinator, and the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works. In September, the (IVW) imposed a €30,000 penalty on Fly Air (FLM), and €15,000 penalties on Alitalia (ALI), Delta Air Lines (DAL), Corendon Airlines, and Air Cairo (AOX). In July, Clickair (CLK) received administrative fines of €60,000 and €15,000, and Atlas Air (TLS) one penalty of €15,000.